Jordan's Rome Adventures: "Catholic Disneyland"

We have had another busy couple of days in Rome. After our free weekend, we began our week going to Saint Paul's outside the walls. This is basically the basilica of Saint Paul, and its called "outside the walls" because it is in a place that originally was not within Rome's city limits. I really thought it was going to be just like any other Basilica that we had visited, but I was wrong. This place was incredible. It was HUGE. I wish i was able to get more pictures in there, but my camera batteries died and I was only able to get a couple. Saint Paul, as most people will know, is the man who actually wrote the Letters in the New testament. Most scholars agree that he really did write Roman's and Galatians. Walking into his basilica and seeing his actual tomb was an amazing experience. This was the guy who we heard stories about in the bible, the actual man that we were taught about in Catholic school. Later, we went out to a trattoria, which is a type of family restaurant. We had some really good food. I got the special which included a salad, pasta, meatballs, and a dessert. We also went to the Pantheon which was this old temple that the ancient Romans originally built, but it was later converted by christians into a church. It is definitely worth seeing. Outside is a building out of ancient Rome. walking inside is a beautiful church with a huge dome. In the top of the dome is a hole that you can see the sky out of. It does rain though inside, which is still kinda cool, but dont stand underneath it....

Tuesday, we went to another old Basilica and had mass. After a lecture and tour, Professor Gentry-Akin bought us lunch. I ordered this half calzone/half pizza. It was BOMB. It was also one of the strangest creations I have ever seen. We had a short seminar later and we were free for the evening. We wanted to watch the Presidential Inaugration together at a restaurant or pub. So we went to the English speaking area and watched it together at Abbey Theatre. It was a really fun and eventful night. We all managed to get seperated again leaving and everyone ended up taking a different way home. It all worked out though since we are getting really used to this whole metro system.

Today was another interesting day. We started the morning at Saint Agnes' outside the walls. Saint Agnes was martyred at only the age of 12. Her actual tomb was there, and it was a special mass at her basilica today. It was very interesting because the mass was in Italian. We could not understand much, but it was still a cool experience. Even though we were in a different country, you begin to realize that mass is essentially the same. Hearing people do the sign of peace in a different language was cool too. We've learned a lot about catholicism this whole trip, and we all really have been thinking more about our faith and why we believe what we do. I myself have learned so much about myself and about being a catholic. Walking into St. Peter's square, sitting in places like Saint Paul's Basilica, reminds you why people believe what they do, and why people died for their faith. Really, you are in awe of some of the things you see in Rome.